Hiking near Woodstock: Mountain laurels, monuments and rattlesnakes

A reward of dinner in
Woodstock
following a hike is a perfect
Catskills
day. There are a number of options in the surrounding wilderness ranging from easy to strenuous. Rattlesnakes are native to this area, but hiking can yield stunning views. Experts caution hikers to not collect rocks, especially near old quarries where snakes like to nest, and to simply leave the rattlesnakes alone. But know what to do just in case.

The
Overlook Mountain
hike starts out near a Buddhist monastery. The climb is steep. In addition to rattlesnakes, there are bears too. But those dangers add to the sense of accomplishment, the spectacular ruins of the Overlook Mountain House and the vista.

Tremper Mountain
or Mount Tremper is about a 10-mile drive from Woodstock and then a hike on an old jeep trail to the payoff: the historic fire tower at the top. It's on the National Register of Historic Places and was built in 1917. There are also lean-tos along the way.

Slide Mountain
is the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. It's reachable on the Curtis-Ormsbee Trail, so named for two well-known hikers who died on Mount Washington, N.H., in 1900. There is a monument honoring Bill Curtis and Allen Orbs at the junction. There's also a plaque near the summit remembering John Burroughs, the famous, local naturalist.

Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild
, the artist colony, offers a
series of hikes
with a state Department of Environmental Conservation-licensed guide, for those who would like some instruction and a tour. Some of the themes include wildflowers and Mountain Laurels. There's a suggested donation of $10.